Toward a philosophy of science policy: approaches and issues

Science & Technology Studies, 2005

Minerva, 2021

The paper considers the notion of Science Policy from a postcolonial perspective. It examines the theoretical implications of the recent trend to include emerging and developing countries in international Science Policies by way of the case study of Switzerland. This country’s new international science policy instruments and measures have challenged the classical distinction between international scientific cooperation and development cooperation, with consequences on standards and evaluation criteria. The analysis reveals that the underlying assumptions of the concept of Science Policy perpetuate traditional asymmetries in the global political economy of science. The paper suggests that the present legacy of Science Policy institutions and practices needs to be transformed to reflect an increasingly diverse spectrum of scientific purposes and traditions. It offers a revised set of foundational assumptions on Science Policy and, more broadly, proposes a fresh point of entry for the ...

2016

Scientific knowledge is one of the main keys for human and social development. In this context, science policies are vital for affirmation of societies at the present time and in the future. Therefore, these policies assume a public value because they are reflected in the quality of political decision-making and the living conditions of citizens (Neal, Smith & McCormick, 2008). Manifold changing processes have been shaping the recent era, primarily linked to development of the knowledge society. Examples include the following: productive sectors are experiencing various reconfigurations; there is an exponential increase in the use of information and communication technologies; new business activities are emerging; the organisation of work as well as of working times are being changed; new social and environmental risks and problems are emerging. In the space of a few decades, knowledge has been presented as one of the main political challenges, in view of the complexities that are emerging in all walks of life. These challenges impel the need for a constant search for resources, and management of the delicate balance between the natural and social world. In other words, knowledge has started to be considered as a cross-result of several processes that go beyond scientific research, scientists and research units. The paradigm of the coproduction signalling the intrinsic relation between science and society (Jasanoff, 1996) supports this idea, by demonstrating that in the knowledge society, the commitment to science and research is (or should be) collective. According to this line of thought, science policy does not define an immutable or even a wholly tangible reality. It incorporates evaluative and ideological assumptions, as well as options and choices of different natures (Neal et al., 2008). It also involves diverse scales of performance: supranational, organisational, departmental, and institutional. Some authors assign a structural and regulatory role to science policy (Neal et al., 2008), stating that it must be defined as the set of decisions and actions taken by political actors and institutions in order to plan, standardise, manage and evaluate science and research, as it is produced in a certain geographical and political context. In sum, we can define the following spheres of science policy as the principal ones, or those that are more embedded in the daily lives of institutions and researchers (Araújo, 2009, 2013b, 2014; Martins, 2012b): human resources in science, expectations and professional integration in science careers; scientific research funding (either from public or private institutions); distribution of funds and its connections with evaluation methodologies; principles and methods of evaluation in science (addressed to researchers and institutions); definition of priority areas; and the incorporation of scientific results in political decision-making. These processes concern not only the most effective and efficient ways

The Journal of Technology Transfer, 2008

Developing the "Science of Science Policy" will require data collection and analysis related to the processes of innovation and technological change, and the effects of government policy on those processes. There has been much work on these topics in the last three decades, but there remain difficult problems of finding proxies for subtle concepts, endogeneity, distinguishing private and social returns, untangling cumulative effects, measuring the impact of government programs in a true "but for" sense, and sorting out national and global effects. I offer observations on how to think about these issues.

2005

Rivista Italiana di Politiche Pubbliche, 2004

1995

Die gewig wat wetenskapsbeleid dra, reiatief tot ander owerheidsfunksies. • Die beperkinge op openbare hulpbronne wat nodig is om daaraan reg te laat geskied. f 10 SAIPA 1995 30{1)

Philosophy Today, 2004

Ed ited by Rob ert Frodeman, Uni ver sity of West Texas Carl Mit cham, Col o rado School of Mines PHI LOS O PHY TO DAY Ì Ed i tor: Da vid Pellauer Ì Ed i to rial As sis tant: Ì Mail ing Ad dress: Phi los o phy To day DePaul Uni ver sity 2352 North Clifton Ave Chi cago, Il li nois 60614 United States of Amer ica Ì Tele phone: 773-325-7267 Ì Fax: 773-325-7268 Ì Email: phltoday@con dor.depaul.edu

Teorie vědy/Theory of Science, 2009

Page 1. 1 / / / / / TEORIE VĚDY / THEORY OF SCIENCE Page 2. 2 Teorie vědy / Theory of Science časopis pro teorii vědy, techniky a komunikace journal for theory of science, technology, and communication ročník/ Vol.: XXXI ...

Handbook on Science and Public Policy, 2019

This Handbook on Science and Public Policy will capture a landscape in flux: the relation between science and society has been changing in the last decades, and it has become a hot topic in the science system and in science policy studies. Even though historically the topic is not new, it seems that the roles of science and innovation are being debated more explicitly: the demand for science-based innovation is growing while the legitimation of scientific research is being questioned. Scientific knowledge is hailed as a significant societal and economic resource in global competition. Innovations emerging from science are considered to be the key to market success and prosperity. At the same time, scientific knowledge and research-based innovation are supposed to address so-called grand societal challenges and help achieve ‘sustainable development goals’ (United Nations 2015). Yet, there is also pressure to legitimise the increasing amounts of public funding for research worldwide. And the questions ‘how does society benefit from science?’ and ‘which research is “relevant” and “useful”?’ are raised emphatically. This Handbook assembles state-of-the-art insights into the co-evolutionary and precarious relations between science and public policy. Beyond this, it also offers a fresh outlook on emerging challenges for science (including technology and innovation) in changing societies, and related policy requirements, as well as the challenges for public policy in view of science-driven economic, societal, and cultural changes. In short, this book deals with science as a policy-triggered project as well as public policy as a science-driven venture.